Recovering the endangered Moapa Dace (Moapa coriacea) David J. Syzdek — Environmental Biologist Recovering the Moapa Dace . Collaboration between stakeholders . Warm Springs Natural Area . The Moapa dace and threats . Restoration efforts at Warm Springs . Stream restoration . Invasive Species Control and Monitoring . Restoring Stream Connectivity . Next Steps Collaboration is key to species recovery Muddy River Recovery Implementation Program USFWS SNWA Moapa Valley Water District Coyote Springs Investment Moapa Band of Paiutes Biological Advisory Committee Nevada Department of Wildlife US Fish and Wildlife Service US Geological Survey Coyote Springs Investment Moapa Band of Paiutes NV Energy Clark County The Nature Conservancy White River Flow System . Eastern Nevada is drained by a small and discontinuous 200 mile long river . Flowed during the Pleistocene but now mostly dry with subsurface flow . Several aquatic endemic species are found in remnant springs, streams, and lakes . The Muddy River begins at Warm Springs and flows into Lake Mead Memorandum of Agreement . SNWA, US Fish and Wildlife, Coyote Springs Investment LLC, Moapa Valley Water District, Moapa Band of Paiutes . Purpose: To Establishment of management and mitigation measures designed to protect and recover the Moapa dace while allowing regional municipal and industrial groundwater development to proceed • Dedication of 10% of Coyote Springs Investment LLC’s existing water rights to Moapa dace recovery. • Dedication of MVWD Jones Spring Right of 1 cfs (724 afy) as a pass through flow to allow for the augmentation of habitat Memorandum of Agreement (cont.) • Establishment of a Recovery Implementation Program • Development of an Ecological Model for the Moapa dace • Establish Hydrologic Review Team • Redistribute and/or reduce pumping if spring flows decline • Habitat Restoration and Recovery Measures Including: – Restoration of the Apcar unit of the Moapa National Wildlife Refuge – Habitat restoration off of the MNWR – Funding for fish barriers – Funding for the eradication of non-native species Warm Springs Natural Area . Purchased in 2007 by SNWA, funded by the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act (SNPLMA) Parks, Trails and Natural Areas Program. WSNA acquired to protect and recover the Moapa dace whose habitat is tied to the regional carbonate springs . Stewardship Plan guides property management and lays out SNWA’s commitments . WSNA is 1,220 acres . Will be open in the future for limited public access Aquatic Species of Concern in the Warm Springs Area . Endemics . Moapa dace (Moapa coriacea) . Moapa White River springfish (Crenichthys baileyi moapae) . Moapa naucorid (Limnocoris moapensis) . Moapa riffle beetle (Microcylloepus moapus) . Moapa Warm Springs riffle beetle (Stenelmis moapa) . Moapa pebblesnail (Pyrgulopsis avernalis) . Rare non-endemics . Moapa Valley pyrg (Pyrgulopsis carinifera) . Grated tryonia (Tryonia clathrata) . Western naucorid (Ambrysus mormon) . Pahranagat naucorid (Pelocoris biimpressus shoshone) The Moapa dace (Moapa coriacea) . Cyprinidae family . Only species in the genus Moapa . Officially described in 1948; but was known before then and was considered “common” in 1933 . Occurred in spring pools, outflow streams, and main river . Typically found in swift, warm (27°C to 32°C) water . Small (~3½ inches long) . Small scales, leathery . Dark spot on tail Moapa Dace Recovery Goals (US Fish and Wildlife) 1. 6,000 adult Moapa dace are present in the five spring systems and the Upper Muddy River for 5 consecutive years. 2. Ensure instream flows and historical habitat in 3 of the 5 spring systems have been protected. 3. 75% of historical habitat in the five spring systems and the Upper Muddy River provide Moapa dace spawning, nursery, cover and/or foraging habitat. 4. Moapa dace population is comprised of 3 or more age classes and reproduction and recruitment is documented from 3 of the 5 spring systems. 5. Nonnative fish and parasites no longer adversely affect the long-term survival of Moapa dace. Threats to the Moapa Dace . Invasive species . California palms (Washingtonia filifera) . Western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) introduced before 1938 . Shortfin mollies (Poecilia mexicana) introduced 1963 . Blue tilapia (Oreochromis aureus) introduced about 1995 . Ellgrass (Vallisneria spp.) Threats to the Moapa Dace (cont.) . Irrigation diversions . Barriers to movement . Fish entrainment . Recreation Development . Springs developed for swimming . Pool chlorination . Groundwater development Threats to the Moapa Dace Habitat changes . Entrenchment and headcutting . Thermal temperatures cooling - due to ponding, sheetflow, and coldwater inflows Thermal Problems (2008) LDS Warm Springs Natural Area USFWS M o a p a •>31° C •>30° C TNC N a t i o n a l •>29° C W i l d l i f e •>28° C R e f u g e •>27° C •>26° C Warm Springs Natural Area . Moapa dace historically were found throughout the entire Warm Springs Natural Area. Moapa Valley National Wildlife Refuge began land and water purchases in LDS Warm Springs 1979. The Refuge protects three major springs and Natural Area their outflow streams. USFWS M o a p a . In 1998, USFWS Va l l e y personnel constructed a fish barrier on adjacent C l a r k ranch land to prevent blue N a t i o n a l C o u n t y W i l d l i f e tilapia from entering the R e f u g e Refuge. 0 0.25 0.5 1 Miles . All Moapa dace still occur in this area. Moapa Dace Numbers 1994-2013 4500 4000 Before Restoration 3500 After Restoration 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 Moapa Dace Restoration Efforts on WSNA . Stream Restoration . Pederson Stream (2008) . Apcar Stream (2011-2012) . Invasive Species Control . Tilapia . Palms . Eelgrass . Impending Threats . Red shiner (Cyprinella lutrensis) . Red-swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) Lower Pederson Project (2008) . Pederson Stream had been diverted for irrigation . Dense palms growing in the channel caused sheet flow and cooling . New channel constructed towards the historic location Lower Pederson Project (2008) Biological Advisory Committee recommended SNWA funded Muddy River Apcar Stream Lower Pederson Spring Apcar Pederson Spring Main Pederson Clark County 2008 Spring Aerial NAD 83 State Plane NV East Map ID # 15127 JAB 8/11/08 Plummer Lower Pederson Project (2008) Lower Pederson Project (2008) Lower Pederson Project 11/2008 6/2009 8/2009 November 2008 June 2009 August 2009 Moapa Dace Numbers Lower Pederson Stream 2009-2013 400 376 350 318 300 250 244 200 150 96 88 99 100 84 71 51 50 29 0 2009 Winter 2009 2010 Winter 2010 2011 Winter 2011 2012 Winter 2012 2013 Winter 2013 Summer Summer Summer Summer Summer Apcar Restoration 2011-2012 Before Restoration: Wide, shallow channel with slow flow After Restoration: Narrow, deep channel with rapid flow Apcar Restoration 2011-2012 Apcar Restoration 2011-2012 Apcar Restoration 2011-2012 Apcar Restoration 2011-2012 Moapa Dace Numbers Apcar Stream 2008-2013 FWS Apcar Upper Middle Lower 786 397 207 162 130 8 51 49 55 31 40 2009 Winter 2009 Summer 2010 Winter 2010 Summer 2011 Winter 2011 Summer 2012 Winter 2012 Summer 2013 Winter 2013 Summer Fish Barriers and Tilapia Control Efforts — 1998 Gabion Fish Barrier installed on Refuge Stream — 2007 BLM Fish Barrier installed as a downstream anchor to prevent fish from entering the area LDS Warm Springs — 2008 South Fork Fish Barrier installed to facilitate tilapia removal Natural Area on the South Fork USFWS M o a p a Va l l e y C l a r k N a t i o n a l C o u n t y W i l d l i f e R e f u g e 0 0.25 0.5 1 Miles Fish Barriers and Tilapia Control Efforts — Should get funding for removable fish barrier in 2014 — Planning to retrofit BLM Barrier to resist crayfish LDS Warm Springs Natural Area USFWS M o a p a Va l l e y C l a r k N a t i o n a l C o u n t y W i l d l i f e R e f u g e 0 0.25 0.5 1 Miles Fish Barriers and Tilapia Control Efforts . Nevada Dept. of Wildlife lead treatment on South Fork in December 2009. Rotenone applied with LDS Warm Springs drip systems, and sprayers, and directly Natural Area to over 80 spring orifices. USFWS M o a p a Va l l e y . Detoxification using C l a r k N a t i o n a l C o u n t y potassium W i l d l i f e permanganate with R e f u g e sentinel fish in cages 0 0.25 0.5 1 downstream Miles Fish Barriers and Tilapia Control Efforts . Nevada Dept. of Wildlife lead a second rotenone treatment in whole system in late 2010 after fire improved access LDS Warm Springs Natural Area USFWS M o a p a Va l l e y C l a r k N a t i o n a l C o u n t y W i l d l i f e R e f u g e 0 0.25 0.5 1 Miles Follow up treatments on South Fork in 2011 . Several tilapia found in South Fork Summer 2011 . NDOW/SNWA immediately start trapping and spearing . Another rotenone treatment performed in LDS Warm Springs Fall 2011 Natural Area USFWS M o a p a Va l l e y C l a r k N a t i o n a l C o u n t y W i l d l i f e R e f u g e 0 0.25 0.5 1 Miles NDOW 4 Rotenone Treatments October/November 2011 NDOW and SNWA Closely Monitoring for More Tilapia . No tilapia found in system-wide snorkel counts in February and August 2012, February and August 2013 . Nor in September 2012, April 2013, September 2013 trapping with BIO-WEST .